diff --git a/synapse/storage/databases/main/__init__.py b/synapse/storage/databases/main/__init__.py
index e6d35e0708..5b9e3eba68 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/databases/main/__init__.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/databases/main/__init__.py
@@ -261,7 +261,7 @@ class DataStore(
             sql_base = f"""
                 FROM users as u
                 LEFT JOIN profiles AS p ON u.name = '@' || p.user_id || ':' || ?
-                LEFT JOIN erased_users AS eu ON u.name = eu.user_id
+                LEFT JOIN erased_users AS eu USING(user_id)
                 {where_clause}
                 """
             sql = "SELECT COUNT(*) as total_users " + sql_base